I’ve got something of a confession…I’ve never seen anything to do with Star Trek other than the 2009 J.J. Abrams movie. My lack of Star Trek fandom has always been the biggest hole in my geek resume. Growing up, I think I was intimidated by the sheer volume of canon that surrounded the Trek universe. There’s the original series, all the movies, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Star Trek: Enterprise…and that’s not even counting all the books!
I always sided more with the Star Wars world. There were just three films when I was growing up, and once I had seen them I had everything I need to be a fan. I could pour over those 379 minutes of cinema and feel like I knew everything there was to know about the Star Wars universe (or so I thought at the time). Since those years though, the Star Wars universe has expanded to the point where it rivals the Star Trek universe, or possibly over has overtaken it.
This is…maybe .2% of the Star Trek canon
But that was then, and this is now. About two weeks ago I decided that I was going to fill that hole and finally watch Star Trek. With Netflix having the entire universe at my disposal, there would never be a better time. After a lot of research and asking my ‘Trekkie’ friends (including Gabby, who made me promise to say that she suggested Deep Space 9 instead), I settled on starting with The Next Generation. I had heard that it was one of the more comprehensive and referenced series in the canon. And lets be real, the age old debate is Kirk vs. Picard, so I had to start with one of those. Also I know that Wil Wheaton is in the first few seasons and I do consider myself a Wheaton fan.
I do enjoy Wil Wheaton whenever I can
I decided that I wanted to blog my experience watching Star Trek for the first time. I figured that writing about what i’m seeing would help me better understand it, and if I ran into problems or was confused about certain aspects I could default to those readers who know the universe. My first goal is to make it through the first 15 episodes of season 1 by Monday. I’ve heard that that batch of episodes are some of the hardest to get through over the entire run of the series. I’m hoping that ‘if I can get through these, I can get through anything’.
As I look out over this massive undertaking…I have mixed emotions. I’m excited, that goes without saying. I’ll finally have something to contribute to Star Trek conversations rather then just faking my way through them. I’m also a bit nervous, Star Trek is such a huge part of the culture I love so much. What if I hate it? What if I don’t ‘get it’? What if I end up day dreaming through every episode how a Jedi could rip though the entire U.S.S. Enterprise in a matter of an hour? OK, maybe not that last one, but you understand what I’m saying.
That’s my mission and I choose to accept it. Let me know if I made the right choice by starting with The Next Generation or if I should have picked something else. And where do you come down on the Star Wars vs. Star Trek ‘fight’?
Pfft, Trek vs Wars is like apples vs oranges. Oranges are way better. And oranges are Star Trek.
When I read you’re starting with the first series of TNG I cringed a little inside…. they are pretty tough going and, as a massive Trek fan who owns all the series, I tend to avoid series 1 one TNG myself. If you find yourself thinking it’s dated and a bit “wimpy”, then just hold out till series 2 when it starts getting better (and better)!
Oh and I agree that starting with TNG is probably a good idea as it introduces a lot of stuff that it helps to know with the later franchises (DS9 and VOY)
The first 2 seasons of TNG are pretty bad, but the same can be said DS9 and Voyager. That doesn’t mean it’s bad trek though. I would’ve started with the Wrath of Khan and moved on from there.
Your friend had great intention when she recommended DS9, but it’s not the better “starter” trek series. In fact, DS9 ties in very well just after you finish TNG– hell, in the DS9 pilot there is even a scene between Picard and Sisko where they somewhat “pass the torch” over to DS9.
But in terms of getting your lexicon, always TNG first. Just be warned, Seasons 1 and 2… they had no budget, and it shows. Painfully.
But it’s all worth it when Season 3 kicks in.